Two new deepwater sea anemones (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria) sicyonis heliodiscus SP.N. (actinostolidae) and Hormathia Pacifica SP.N. (Hormathiidae) from Pacific

Abstract

Sicyonis heliodiscus sp.n. and Hormathia pacifica sp.n. are described from the Taney Seamounts, NE Pacific. The species belonging to these two genera are known mainly from N Atlantic and Antarctic locations, and only a few species were recorded from the Pacific. Sicyonis heliodiscus sp.n. is a large species which has unusual exterior with short column hidden in live specimens under the wide oral disk and short marginal tentacles directed downward. It is a rare species, which have been observed only a few occasions during more than 25 years of research by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. In contrast, Hormathia pacifica sp.n. is common at the Taney Seamounts. It has a common appearance for the genus and can be distinguished from other Hormathia species by a combination of features including the morphology of the body and cnidom.